I am thoroughly gutted, as Deb’s countryfolk would say, about the sudden passing, on St. Pat’s Day, of the awesome, inscrutable, infuriating, arrogant, trashy, bootyshaking, hearttugging, prodigious, forward-minded, power pop auteur and (as he wanted to be known on his tombstone, in a rare fanzine interview back in 1977) ‘self made man’ known as William Alexander Chilton of Memphis, TN and more recently Nawlins.

I will sans doute expand on this in a sooncome column, but for now, as someone posted online today, ‘the music won’t be going anywhere’.

So comfort yourselves as I do with that thought, and crank up any favorite Chilton, Box Tops or Big Star track and wish him Godspeed.

MLH
3/18/10